It's time for Occupy Oakland to end. Its members shout down city officials, nearby businesses are hurting, and the downtown campground has become a trouble magnet and eyesore.

Tension and worry about public safety are the central messages now, not notions of social protest and political action. Oakland's public life is consumed with debating what to do with the occupiers and how to move them out. The group has paralyzed local politics, distracting the city from any other task.

At the outset a month ago, there was tolerance for the group, which was allowed to take over a major downtown plaza. But this indulgence has been badly misused. The group won't tolerate outside advice and hides behind arguments about free speech and assembly to deflect any suggestions to change.

On Thursday evening, a fatal shooting occurred near the edge of the campsite. It's unclear whether there was any connection to the protest, but the incident has added to the lawless, dangerous feel of the area.

The options for ending the gathering aren't good. Mayor Jean Quan has fumbled efforts to remove the group, and she has now asked Occupy Oakland followers to leave voluntarily. Another police sweep remains possible, but the results could be violent and unpredictable.

This situation has left Oakland leaders negotiating with an ostentatiously leaderless group, which has effective control over public property. This is not what 99 percent of the city wants.

The Occupy movement should take stock of its position. Its message is lost, it has little support among leaders who represent Oakland, and it has overstayed its welcome.